Salt Water [Ira]

Everything was in order. She had a strict process for her training, and any student she took on would abide by it as the young one should be accustomed to at this stage. Tea to invigorate the soul followed by exercising the soul before a soak in the hot springs to wash the soul. Miki did not explain it as such though, she tried to speak plainly on things rather than confusing others with her views.

She waited with a faint grin on her face like she had all the time to wait in the world. Miki didn't enforce any strict times so she was more than happy to wait on Ira. If she got desperate she had a had a couple of books to read and pass the time with.

It was nice having someone to train with though since it had been difficult to find a student who showed any kind of potential for her elemental style. It was also a bit of her bad habit that perpetuated that though. She was a reactive person that went with the flow rather than every initiating anything, and so the student of that woman's request was a welcome change of pace.

As peculiar as she thought it was for him to do so.

"Morning, Ira. I hope ya well rested."

She was cheerful that the young man was here now, bubbly even, as she lifted the pot to pour him a cup. It wasn't hot but she almost was inconsistent with the strength that she'd brew her tea at. Sometimes it could be as weak as water or it might bring tears to the eyes. She believed it refined the senses so that they were more consistent in different situations rather than being overwhelmed.

"How do you feel about your progress so far?"

Miki enjoyed the small talk that this session provided. Now more than ever since she had someone to actually talk to rather than sit quietly but she would be sure to mirror Ira's movements so that they sipped the tea at the same time. She had the tea brewed without knowing the strength herself and if they drank at different times then it would defeat the whole purpose.

She matched his sip without anything to suggest that her senses had been overwhelmed by the bitter tea. It was quite potent what her attendants had brewed.

"You do. I'm not teaching you the Suichō Seiketsu Ken but I am teaching you the fundamentals. It would take many years for me to feel confident that you could learn it quickly."

Miki explained without intending to hurt his feelings with her thoughts but they were pragmatic. Preferable even as she would rather Ira develop their own approach than adopt the Koizumi traditions.

Well, ya progress is a bit like the tides. It fluctuates; some things come quicker than others, and some things reach further."

She articulated her sagacity to him in a way that might've gone over his head since she felt so inclined to use analogies. Regardless though she took another sip while collecting her thoughts. The movements of his body would be something that he would need to master himself but for matters of the spirit she felt a lot more comfortable putting his focus on. She did not imagine that humans had very developed spiritual control when so many only had enough power to see spirits rather than achieve any kind of feats beyond that.

"Have you been doing your visualisation training that I taught you? Your reiryoku flowing through your body like a network of rivers and streams? If you are having trouble I can arrange a chart which shows the venous system; it's a marvellous tool by using the tangible aspects of the body as a guideline for the spiritual arts."

"I'm sure it's complicating the process for ya."

She grinned to herself at how quickly he had drank the tea, whereas she was patient and willing to drawn out the unpleasant experience. Slow was smooth and smooth was fast. In the midst of battle it if you rushed something it could leave exploitable weaknesses for your foe.

"But at the end of the day, you're still a sprout. It may prove to become a powerful boon or it might hinder ya indefinitely. It's hard to tell."

Miki didn't try to sugar coat the situation to Ira but it was something she considered in his development nonetheless. She couldn't empathise though. It was a truly unique situation after all, a snowflake amongst an ocean of drops. Now that did sound pretty neat, didn't it?